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Watch & Learn: TRIGUN #14

The single worst episode of anime I've watched, so far.

I’ve watched around 200 episodes of anime since this column started and this episode of TRIGUN was, without question, the worst I’ve seen so far. The only one that comes to mind as being nearly as awful was that pilot for BLASSREITER . Convoluted plotting? Hideous character designs for the villains? A family feud too dull to even bother trying to understand? It all added up to a serious urge to reach for the remote and press “stop."

Keeping an open mind is something I strive for in every one of these posts. It’s called “Watch & Learn” after all. It’s not about reviews or ranting so much as it’s about me charting my gradually-expanding understanding. Inevitably, episodic television is going to have to use plots that are well-worn, but you play along because not every one can (or should) reinvent the wheel. Still, I’m not going to mince words when an episode feels like the worst combination of banal syndicated TV and awkwardly-random anime. I’ve enjoyed TRIGUN a lot about until this point and I’m willing to think of this as a hiccup. GURREN LAGANN had a hell of a hiccup with that early episode that was so bad it got somebody fired. But I’m hoping this show doesn’t have to hold its breath for long to get over it, if you catch my meaning.

I honestly didn’t care enough to try keeping track of the bandit’s name or what the deal with his family and the evil boss was. The extent of my enjoyment for this was limited me thinking it was funny how the bandit clearly stole his vest from Vegeta .

Watch this episode, “Little Arcadia,” below and decide for yourself, then read my comments on the previous episode here.

Wowzers. I didn't expect any episode of Trigun to get such a negative review. Although, I'm not going to argue that this episode has an incredibly deep meaning that you missed out on or anything like that. It's a fillery random adventure that has only the smallest nugget of character insight/development. You may of noticed this(but you also may of not, since you disliked the episode so much) but the weird villains were part of the same family from Episode 5, Hard Puncher. The little mad scientist guy riding on Goseth's chest was the husband of the giant woman with the weird forehead. The rest of them are their children... don't ask why or how.

I'm also pleased to announce that there are no more filler episodes from this point on. Pretty much all of them have a pretty major plot point.

It is funny that you should pick this episode as the worst. This episode is in fact not filler in the traditional anime sense because this story is from the manga. However in the manga it occurred much earlier in the plot. The manga started with the town trying to capture Vash story which was episode five in the anime. Which introduced the Nebraska family. Then the next story was the train robbery. Then it was this story bringing back the Nebraska family. In the manga itself it was primary used just to characterize and give a little back story to Meryl and Milly.

You may of noticed this(but you also may of not, since you disliked the episode so much) but the weird villains were part of the same family from Episode 5, Hard Puncher. The little mad scientist guy riding on Goseth's chest was the husband of the giant woman with the weird forehead. The rest of them are their children... don't ask why or how.

I did notice. They bot have giants. I just honestly didn't feel like commenting on it.

I honestly didn’t care enough to try keeping track of the bandit’s name or what the deal with his family and the evil boss was. The extent of my enjoyment for this

LOL yeah sadly I don't know what was so great about this series to be quite honest man, I found Trigun to be excellent background fodder while I draw or something on paper and just listen to the story occasionally glancing at the monitor to see whats happening.

@Tom_Pinchuk:Wow, so far you've reached 200 anime episode? You even made an incredibly observant Dragonbball Z reference. That's great! At this rate, you are going to have to rename your Almost Otaku segment.

I never even thought about how many animes I've watched. One Piece alone has over 480+. Detective Conan, my favorite, just breached 600. I can't even begin to count the number of episodes I've seen in total from all the series. So many animes. Some short and some have over 500 episodes.

I honestly didn’t care enough to try keeping track of the bandit’s name or what the deal with his family and the evil boss was. The extent of my enjoyment for this

LOL yeah sadly I don't know what was so great about this series to be quite honest man, I found Trigun to be excellent background fodder while I draw or something on paper and just listen to the story occasionally glancing at the monitor to see whats happening. "

" @Tom_Pinchuk:Wow, so far you've reached 200 anime episode? You even made an incredibly observant Dragonbball Z reference. That's great! At this rate, you are going to have to rename your Almost Otaku segment.